ARMY medics who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan were given the Freedom of Llandudno on Saturday.

Around 60 members of 203 Welsh Field Hospital (V) who are all part time volunteers marched through the resort after being granted the honour in recognition of the invaluable work they do in saving lives.

“They have a distinguished record of service and we’re fortunate to have a unit of the regiment stationed here. We’re delighted to recognise the unit and the valuable work they’re doing,” said town councillor Philip Evans who proposed the bestowal of the Freedom.

Mayor Janet Jones said: “Members of the unit have given such dedicated service both here and abroad and they have risked their lives to save those of others. The Freedom of the town is not given lightly and has to be earned by distinguished service over a period of years.”

Colonel Kevin Davies, commanding officer of 203 Welsh Field Hospital, said Llandudno was the first town to grant it the Freedom.

“Our Welsh medics are doing a fantastic job and this is recognition of this. We have served in Afghanistan, and in January, 20 of our number are going back there. We are not large in numbers, but we do punch above our weight in the contribution we make. Morale is sky high and this award contributes to that,” he said.

He explained that members of the Llandudno-based squadron are made up entirely of NHS staff based at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan and Ysbyty Gwynedd at Bangor, who give up their free time to train to deal with the casualties of war.

“You in Llandudno are the first here in Wales to publicly acknowledge our contribution,” he said.

After the town hall ceremony, the troops marched to the cenotaph on the promenade to lay wreaths before attending a reception at the town’s Royal British Legion Club.

There will also be a parade through the own this Sunday, September 27, to commemorate the granting of the Freedom of the town to the Royal Air Force Valley.

The Freedom was granted in 1995 in recognition of RAF Valley’s service to the country and a parade takes place every two years.

The parade is expected to leave from the Town Hall at 11am and will also feature a fly past by two Hawk aircraft from 19 (Fighter) Squadron and a Sea King Helicopter from C Flight, 22 Squadron.